Calling it for what it is

Pain was something I could easily fake. I reared back away from the flames with an angry hiss. I kept backing away as she threw more flames at me. Ethan hit me with waves of telepathic force. I added force to his hits with my own jumps back.

"You let that beast completely destroy your teamwork," Savannah continued with a lecturing tone, "Were you just going to let it kill you?"

I roared at them, and surged forward. Towards Savannah. The beasts seemed to be able to recognize she was the weakest of the three of us so going after her would be the most believable course of action. Savannah didn't seem to like it. Her mana reserves were drying up fast so she wouldn't be able to do this much longer. I used her next flame attack as good cover reason for turning tail to run.

I didn't like that this plan made me look kind of like a coward, but it established Ethan, and Savannah's rep as strong fighters. As soon as I was out of sight I took my human form, and roughed up my clothes a bit before running back towards them. I pretended to be winded. Rubbing fake sweat off my face.

"Jesus," I panted, "I thought that thing was going to get me for sure."

I looked around at the damage I done, and smirked at the way Luke, and Conrad looked.

"What are you smiling about?" Luke winced as he pushed off the tree that I'd slammed him into.

"Nothing," I snorted, "Just like seeing you all bruised up after walking around like you own everything. Just because you're Baron's baby bro."

I pushed my lip out into a pout as if I felt sorry for him. Effectively mocking the big idiot in front of me.

"Don't make me kick your ass again," Luke winced as he stood up slowly.

"You're way weaker than your brother," I straightened up, "And wounded. You don't really stand a chance against me when I'm just a little winded."

Luke awkwardly rushed me. Only for me to evade his attack, and elbow him in the face. Luke went down like a sack of potatoes. I could take him easily. Even at half strength.

His big brother had done a really good job of boosting my damage resistance. The most he could do to me right now was leave a bruise. I snorted as I stood over him.

"You should really learn when you're beat," I snorted out of irritation, "My team could kick the ass of your whole team anytime. You'd have to be stupid to believe that Goliath hasn't forced me to learn every single one of his techniques."

I turned away from them, and focused on my group.

"We should rest up before we start hunting again," I stated bluntly as I looked over my shoulder at the team that was slowly pulling themselves back together, "Anyone against that."

"No objections here," Savannah nodded in approval.

Ethan just shook his head.

{Still having trouble talking to strangers?} I didn't want to ask this question out loud.

Ethan looked at me. I guess he still didn't like bringing all that up. I needed him to tell me what happened to him to make him this way. My muscles tensed as I brought my eyes back to facing forward. I'd done enough to make them wary of me.

Plus the added bonus of humiliating them, and making them look like complete idiots. It made me want to smirk, but doing that in front of Savannah right now wasn't the best idea. I'd only just barely reassured Savannah that I was completely in control of myself. I was pretty sure that image of me tearing everything that moved apart would stay with her. It didn't seem to phase Ethan all that much.

He was much tougher than her when it came to the more animalistic side of me. Savannah just didn't trust that side of me at all, and to be completely frank neither did I. System what was that?

Dragons do not react well when their minds are overwritten. The logical part of their brain is isolated to protect it, and their basic instincts are set loose. Making them go into a carnal state. Once in this state the dragon attacks anything that is not an ally. Including its own kind.

Holy shit. I would attack my own kind. I barely stopped inches from attacking Savannah, and Ethan.

Dragons are unable to attack or injure loyal bonded.

That's so reassuring. I snorted. I wanted to go back to my real body, but I couldn't while those idiots were nearby.

"We should escort them back to town," I looked over to the idiots, "I got Luke, and that water guy pretty good. I had to heal the water guy a little to keep him on his feet."

We were far enough away that I didn't have to worry about being overheard by them, but we were still within line of sight.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Savannah mumbled.

"It's better than letting them get jumped by a beast this far out," I stretched slowly, "Don't get me wrong. I hate idiots like them, but I don't hate them enough to let them die."

Ethan nodded. He agreed with me. We were just waiting on Savannah.

"They won't like this," Savannah glanced over to them, "We just made them look like idiots."

"I'm pretty sure they would rather be alive," I snorted in irritation, "If they decline our help then we'll let them die on their own."

"As blunt as ever," Savannah half chuckled.

"Pretty words don't keep us alive," I rolled my eyes.

Savannah gave her nod of approval. I headed towards them. My confident stride drew their attention to me right away.

"We don't have a healer," I stated bluntly, "And a few of you are pretty battered. We could keep you company until we get back to the settlement. Strength in numbers."